Contemporary religious life is replete with challenges. In a highly secular society it is difficult to remain religious in its authentic sense. This often becomes especially clear when one enters a synagogue hoping for an uplifting religious experience. Sometimes, one gets the impression that one has entered a concert hall in which a musical performance is being conducted including songs of prayer dictated by decorum. Other times, the prayer service lacks any music and is, in fact, downright depressing.

In this biting critique the prophet protests against one of man’s most common flaws during prayer.In Jewish tradition, the art of prayer carries a paradoxical demand. There is the need to carefully follow the words of the prayer book and never deviate from them while at the same time praying with great devotion. The sages, in their infinite knowledge of the human soul, were able to create words of prayer that could touch each human being in a unique way, according to the many diverse dimensions of human nature. Once they determined which combination of words suited this need, they instituted the prayer book.

Following discussions about the lacklustre nature of Shabbat morning services in synagogue, attempts were made to design our prayer services so that they would be more meaningful and incorporate more of a sense of community.

In our contemporary world it is difficult to continue being surprised. Our educational system (with exceptions) has been teaching us for several decades that everything must make sense and nothing can be left to intellectual random. Scientific knowledge with its emphasis on order and consistency, together with the study of human behavior and its insistence on universal psychological patterns, have confiscated our minds and convinced us that basically there is no place for astonishment

…….The Ceremonial Hall, the Nostalgia Center And the Davening Club – In his exiting book, “On Being a Jew,” Professor James Kugel warns his readers about three kinds of synagogues that have done great damage to Jewish life. He calls them the “Ceremonial Hall Synagogues,” the “Nostalgia Centers” and the “Davening Clubs.” (1)

We suggested in a previous essay that Israeli leaders, academicians and the Israeli public should find their way back to the synagogue and re-discover their neshomehs. But this is easier said than done. Many have entered and left without sensing any spiritual significance. In fact, many have entered and have been discouraged.

When joining synagogues around the world for prayer, one is often confronted with a lack of religious enthusiasm. In many synagogues, services are heavy and often a little depressing. It is not always the lack of concentration by the worshippers which makes synagogue services unattractive but the absence of song and smile.

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The David Cardozo Academy seeks to revitalize the Jewish tradition and restore the relevance of Judaism as a force of authentic, non-dogmatic Jewish religiosity in which Jews once more take pride in the divine Torah and its great moral and spiritual mission towards all of mankind.